| 15 South Mulberry Street Hagerstown, Maryland 21740 301-733-3565 |
| MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Hagerstown Church of the Brethren is to celebrate the love of Jesus Christ and glorify the Lord by striving to live as Christ lived, experiencing the power of God's healing in our lives. We seek to nurture our faith community through prayer, music and the proclaimed Word, while enthusiastically reaching out to others with compassion, respect and love for everyone so that we may grow in faith and commitment together. VISION STATEMENT Journeying with Christ - Serving Our Neighbors - Uniting at the Master’s Table |
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| Unsung Brethren |
| All rights reserved. Used by permission. Permission to copy must be obtained from the author. |
| John T. Lewis was born a “black freeman” in 1835, Carroll County, Maryland. While still a teenager, he joined the Church of the Brethren at Meadow Branch meetinghouse near Westminster. In 1860, Lewis moved to March Creek south of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to escape the coming civil war. With a footloose spirit, John moved again to New York, just missing the Battle of Gettysburg by months. In 1864, John Lewis married Miss Mary Stover, a Southern black lady and took up farming at Elmira – here he met the world-famous novelist – Mark Twain. One evening as Ida Langdon – Twain’s sister-in-law – was turning home to Quarry Farm, her horse became frightened and run off. Mr. Lewis being in the right place at the right time, seized the bridle of the wild animal, preventing Mrs. Langdon’s buggy from going over a steep cliff and perhaps avoiding a fatal accident. A grateful Twain had witnessed the heroic performance, starting a mutual, lasting friendship with John Lewis. When ever possible for the remainder of their earthly journey, Twain and Lewis would meet at Quarry Farm and for hours would talk politics and share their spiritual faith. Being a friend of Mark Twain is just one little-known event in the life of this unsung black Brethren. Following the Battle of Antietam, Nathan Dykeman – 107th New York Infantry – took the Holy Bible from the Dunker Church for a battlefield souvenir. Dykeman’s sister, living near Elmira had preserved the battlefield Bible. Suffering from poor health, the aging woman decided to return the sacred book – the only problem was trying to locate the Dunker congregation down in Maryland. Someone remembered there was a black man nearby who claimed to be a member of the Dunker or Church of the Brethren. John Lewis was contacted and agreed to help return the long-lost text. Today, the old Dunker Bible is in possession of the National Parks Service at the Antietam Battlefield near the Dunker Church. Inside the front cover are words: “Through the kindness of Brother John T. Lewis, Elmira, N.Y., this Bible is here after an absence of 41 years, 2 month, 6 days – December 4th 1903.” In the Christian Family Companion magazine – January 28th 1870 – John Lewis wrote, “I am trying by the help of God to live in accordance with the gospel and the order of the Brethren. I hope the brothers and sisters will pray for me that I may be faithful to the end.” In 1906, the old farmer was laid to rest in Woodlawn Cemetery in Elmira. Four years later – 1910 – his respected friend would join him in Woodlawn only yards away – Mark Twain. |
| John T. Lewis |
